I wiped out...

Well, this past Sunday.. I was out riding on my KZ650 at Shelby Forest State Park, and I went over a small bridge at about 45 mph and high-sided,... I was going straight and the second I hit that bridge it went into a death wobble and slammed down to the ground... I feel like a dumbass... The bike is fine besides a small dent in the tank, some engine guard damage, and busted up right side lights and tach... Other than that the bike is ok and functions fine... And I'm ok besides a busted up right knee and side... Good thing I had full leather boots, full leather gloves, armored jacket, and a full face helmet... Had I had worn motorcycle pants, I wouldn't be feeling it this bad... Just glad it didn't end up worse... On the bright side, this gives me all the more reason to make the bike better than it was before!

sorry to hear this,
get healed up soon.

leon

Stuff like this happens, perhaps eventually to all. Check your main steering bearings...tire pressures, swingarm bearings, fork springs/oil, and also consider a steering stabilizer. Glad you and the scooter came through relatively unscathed.

Glad to hear you are alright. Worry about healing up first. But, I can't imagine what would cause a tank slapper going straight at 45. Not even a bump in the road. Shouldn't normally happen. I'm with Mcdroid, check all those components. Something in the suspension must not be right.

KZJOE900 wrote: Glad to hear you are alright. Worry about healing up first. But, I can't imagine what would cause a tank slapper going straight at 45. Not even a bump in the road. Shouldn't normally happen. I'm with Mcdroid, check all those components. Something in the suspension must not be right.

Yeah, I thought it was odd also... I've never had that as an issue... I've hit some hard bumps on the interstate at 75+ mph and it wasn't an issue... I was kind of shocked when it started wobbling.

There are two kinds of riders, those that have layed it down and those that haven't layed it down yet. learn from it move on, keep the shinny side up. Glad you ok.

45 and a wobble? somethings wrong. Was it a wooden bridge with the joints parallel, or 90* to you?
Steve

The bridge is located at 311 Riddick Rd, Millington,TN. Here is the google maps link. I wiped out the second the front tire hit the bridge and then I slid for about 30 ft or so.... It had rained the day before... I think there may have been some crap on the bridge,...

www.google.com/maps/place/311+Riddick+Rd...2b5603d71e24!6m1!1e1

It's because the bridge road surface it wood. Wet wood road surfaces often are as slick as ice even though they are not particularly smooth. Long ago I had a similar experience in a friend's car. Ed

Yeah, at Hole in the Hills we had a bridge made out of a flat car going over Bee Gum Creek. Moss would grow all over it and if there was a chill, it would ice up before anything else. During the summer it wasn't a problem. 25 miles of logging roads just to get supplies. 9* double switch back dirt road just to get out of the property. Bossie loved it but a HD would never make it. Lyons, tigers and bears, oh my. :ohmy: Don't forget those damn Deer. I hate Deer.
Steve

Bridge on the one way road in the park ? If so you never go over that fast. But at least you got to break in you 650 just like your 440. :woohoo:

You dug up this old thread just to make that statement? :dry:
Steve